IMAGES TAKEN NEAR TO
Paddington Drive, SWINDON, SN5 7SB

6010 King Charles I awaits the scrapper's torch at Swindon works. The brasswork, including name and number plates, has been removed for sale or safe keeping. The drive rods have gone too. I've avoided the temptation to remove the smoking chimney in the background - it might give a clue to a more precise location (which is believed to be in this gridsquare). The Kings were built by the GWR here at Swindon between 1927 and 1930, partly to regain the most powerful passenger locomotive title. They were withdrawn in 1962. 30 were built, and 3 are preserved. See Image for an example of how these locomotives should be seen.

In the foreground is Collett '5600' class 0-6-2T No. 5602 (built 2/24, withdrawn 9/64); behind it is Collett '8750' class 0-6-0PT No. 4626 (built 9/42, withdrawn 3/64).

16XX class no. 1642 (built 4/51, withdrawn 1/62) and '4575' class no. 5542 (built 7/28, withdrawn 12/61, but preserved - on the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway).

One of 47 Brecon & Merthyr Railway locomotives acquired by the GWR in 1922, renumbered and 'Swindonized', No. 332 was built as B&M No. 38 in 12/1909 and lasted only until 12/49.

Amongst, numerous other ex-GWR locomotives dumped near the Works is one of the 15 acquired from the BP&GVR by the GWR in 7/22. 0-6-0ST no. 2195 was built 4/1905 named 'Cwm Mawr' and withdrawn 3/39, but re-instated (without name) 12/39 and withdrawn finally 1/53.

In early snow on 29 November 1964, a string of condemned locomotives is headed by an LMS 'foreigner', ex-Midland 4F 0-6-0 No. 43940; behind it are ex-GW 0-6-0Ts and a 2-8-0T. Fellow members of the Railway Correspondence & Travel Society are looking round - far more interested than the staff of the Western Region, who are only too glad to be rid of these old steam engines. (The 4F has the diagonal white stripes painted on its cab sides which was a warning to indicate such locomotives were forbidden to venture under the wires on the WCML).

Before electrification in 1906/7 of the GW & Metropolitan (Hammersmith & City) lines in London, most of this class was engaged on those services. This is No. 3588 - but someone has pinched its number-plate. Built 8/1899 it was the last of the class, withdrawn in 12/49 from Oxford (see 'OXF' on frame), where it was probably used on the Blenheim & Woodstock branch.

Martin's Farm, at the end of Redcliffe Street in Even Swindon has so far withstood the encroachment of developers.

Amongst numerous old engines awaiting scrap in 1950: '4400' class 2-6-2T No. 4402 (built 7/05) and '850' class 0-6-0T No. 2019 (built 3/95 as a saddle-tank, a pannier from 4/11), both withdrawn 12/49.

Along with many others, here were '5700' class 0-6-0PT No. 7782 (built 11/30, flanked by much younger (2-3/55) '1600s' Nos. 1658 and 1664; all withdrawn 10-11/64.